Put Out The Light - Guy Hale

Act III 

Stratford-upon-Avon, Spring 1972 

On the streets of Stratford four murders remain unsolved. For DC Toby Marlow there is only one potential killer: Oliver Lawrence. But nobody has seen Oliver for over fifteen years. They don’t even know what he looks like, they are chasing a shadow. 

Oliver’s first act is complete. As Spring turns to summer, Act III is about to begin. Like Othello, he is poisoned by lies from the past. Revenge has consumed him…Now is the time to put out more lights!

 

What did I think?

Put Out The Light is book three in The Shakespeare Murders series and what a cracker it is.  I am absolutely loving this series!  I do think you need to have read book one, The Croaking Raven, to enjoy this one though as it explains the motivation behind the murders.  I highly recommend book two, All Our Yesterdays, which is a prequel and further expands on the history of the characters.

This is a really clever crime novel in that both the reader and the police know who the murderer is; they just don't know what he looks like.  Oliver Lawrence hasn't been seen in Stratford for so long that even people who once knew him fail to recognise him.  This killer hides in plain sight as he picks off his victims one by one.

Revenge is a strong theme throughout the book as Oliver's victims aren't random.  They are all people who he deems to have ruined the acting careers of both him and his father.  Revenge is indeed a dish best served cold and Oliver is enjoying every morsel of his murder feast.

With quotes from Shakespeare's plays woven into the prose, Put Out The Light is a fantastic read for book lovers.  Although I don't know Shakespeare's plays that well, I love how Guy Hale writes one of The Bard's plays into the method of Oliver's killings in each book; in this case it's Othello.  I think if I was more familiar with Shakespeare I would pick up many more references so I might have to swot up before I read the next book.

Highly original and intelligent with lashings of humour, Put Out The Light is a fantastic instalment in this outstanding series.  It's a magnificent crime caper for lovers of literature and one I would highly recommend.

I received a gifted paperback for the Love Books Tours readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: Let's Make a Scene - Laura Wood

Their story might be scripted, but the chemistry is real...

When Cynthie Taylor gets her first real acting job, starring in a small British movie, she is over the moon. There is only one problem... Cynthie's arrogant and annoyingly handsome co-star Jack hates her, and the feeling is definitely mutual. While they may be at war behind the scenes, their on-screen chemistry is palpable, and the studio sees an opportunity – have the two young stars fake a romance that will charm fans and draw crowds.

Thirteen years later, Cynthie and Jack have successfully kept their promise to stay far away from one another, until a surprising offer comes to make a sequel to the cult classic that launched their careers. But there's a catch: they must also rekindle their pretend relationship...and this time there's a documentary crew following their every move.

Cynthie and Jack both desperately need this film to work, but can two ex-rivals ever really trust each other? And what happens when the roles they're playing start to feel all too real?

 

What did I think?

Oh my goodness, I absolutely LOVED Let's Make a Scene!  Although it is linked to Under Your Spell (that I haven't read yet), it is a completely standalone story and it's one that gets your pulse racing, your breath catching and (in my case) the tears falling.

I applaud Laura Wood for writing a dual timeline and dual point of view novel as it is flawlessly written.  It is told from the points of view of Cythie and Jack who met 13 years ago on the set of Cynthie's first film.  A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since and Cynthie's career took off at lightening speed but as the saying goes: "the higher you climb, the harder you fall" and a scandal sees Cynthie returning back to where it all began.

It is clear that Cynthie and Jack have History (with an intentional capital H) and I couldn't read fast enough to discover what went on 13 years ago that drove this clearly meant-to-be couple apart.  To save Cynthie's career she agrees to a fake relationship with Jack but the line between real and fake is very blurred.  There are so many heartbreaking misunderstandings and guarded feelings as the will they/won't they storyline plays out.

As it's set in the film industry, Laura Wood touches on the #MeToo movement in a sensitive, respectful and powerful way.  Friendship is another strong theme as Cynthie has an amazing friend support network.  The romance is exquisite though and if you thought The Notebook was a tearjerker, be prepared to reach for the tissues when reading Let's Make a Scene! 

Bursting with romance and sizzling with sexual tension, Let's Make a Scene is a compelling page-turner that had me on the edge of my seat as I prayed for a happily ever after for Cynthie and Jack.  You'll just have to read the book to find out whether I got my wish or not.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: All Our Yesterdays - Guy Hale

ACT II 

Stratford-upon-Avon, Spring 1932 

Six years after fire destroyed the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, a new troupe of actors is taking Stratford by storm. But offstage, Felix Richards suspects something is rotten in the state of Denmark. 

Morris Oxford feels he needs no introduction. The greatest actor of a new generation…The theatre means everything to him but his talent is tainted by the depths of his ambition. 

All Our Yesterdays, takes us back to where it all began. The stage is set, but uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.

 

What did I think?

All Our Yesterdays is book two in The Shakespeare Murders series but it's a prequel to book one, The Croaking Raven, so it can definitely be read as a standalone.  It's a short book at just 107 pages long but it is filled with drama and intrigue.

It was great to be back in Stratford, treading the boards with the acting troupe led by Morris Oxford.  Unfortunately, Morris isn't the best actor in the group and when he is upstaged by Richard Jenkins he makes sure that it never happens again by giving Richard the smallest parts possible.  Oh Morris, you bitter and nasty little man!

The story is told by fellow actor Felix who is friends with both Morris and Richard.  Now if you've read The Croaking Raven you will know how the story ends and I'm not going to reveal whether it's a comedy or a tragedy but it's one that entertains from start to finish.

Haunting, dramatic and compelling, All Our Yesterdays is a riveting tale of a bitter rivalry in the theatre and it's one I would highly recommend.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: Sun Trap - Rachel Wolf

BE CAREFUL

Ellie has wanted to be an actor since she was a child so, when a role in a blockbuster film presents itself, she grabs it.

WHAT YOU

On the plane to Abu Dhabi to begin filming, Ellie overhears something she shouldn't - two people discussing plans for murder.

WISH FOR

Unsure if it's a misunderstanding, and not wanting to ruin her big break, Ellie remains quiet. Then ten members of the cast become nine...

Ellie needs to be careful - it's more than just her career on the line.

Because she isn't who she says she is.

And liars are always the prime suspect.

 

What did I think?

Sun Trap is a very addictive book set in the stifling desert heat of Abu Dhabi, where a movie is being filmed.  With a group of actors as the main characters, you are never sure who is being sincere and who is hiding something and this book is filled with secrets and lies.

Ellie and Phoebe look so much alike that people mistake them for twins, although they are not actually related.  Is it pure chance that the pair meet at an acting class or is something more sinister going on?  That's the hook that kept me riveted throughout the book as I wanted to know why they looked so similar that one could step into the other one's life.

It's like all of Ellie's dreams have come true when Phoebe is too sick to travel to Abu Dhabi for her debut acting role and Phoebe asks Ellie to take her place.  My spidey sense was tingling at this fortuitous coincidence that Ellie happened to be in the right place at the right time.  Although how right that place might be is thrown into doubt when the bodies start piling up...

The shocks and surprises keep on coming as the pages turn as fast as you can read them.  I was completely hooked and incredibly entertained throughout this wild rollercoaster ride of a book. 

Gripping, addictive and surprising, Sun Trap is a page-turning thriller that is well worth a read.  

I chose to read a digital ARC for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: Blood Spots (Steph Grant Murder Mystery Series Book 5) - Lin Le Versha

Lin Le Versha is a writer not to be missed, the brilliant new talent on the British crime writing scene. Each dark murder mystery in her fabulous crime series will keep you guessing until the very end when the final shocking twist is revealed. If you love Rachel McLean's Dorset Crime series and Ann Cleeves's Shetland series, then you are going to adore Lin Le Versha.

Summer 1989

Their post-show party stretched into the early hours. As the flames of their beach fire danced, the young cast and crew of a brilliant production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream all hope they’ll be propelled to fame and theatrical fortune. But jealousy and betrayal simmer behind their smiles …

Summer 2019

Former police officer Steph Grant is a reluctant volunteer. Stage-managing the new production of Brecht’s Mother Courage within the ruins of Covehithe Church in Suffolk is not her idea of fun, not when the director is the county’s resident drama queen, Beverly Elkin. But there is the excitement of the return of Hollywood and West End star, Jessica Marlowe, to her hometown to consider, thirty years after she made her name at the same venue.

Old jealousies never die

The production does not run smoothly. The show’s star and director can’t agree on anything. Jessica’s return stirs old memories too, sharpened when a body, hidden for thirty years, is exposed by a cliff fall. And Steph’s life is also turned upside down. Her partner, DCI Philip Hale, is acting oddly. He’s distant, irritable, and appears to be hiding something. Can Steph ensure the show goes on – both on stage and at home?

Steph Grant returns in Blood Spots, fifth book in the thrilling Suffolk murders series by Lin Le Versha.

 

What did I think?

Blood Spots is the fifth book in the Steph Grant Murder Mystery series and it's an absolute cracker that I couldn't put down.  I think you could read it as a standalone although it is so much better when read as part of the series.

I loved catching up with Steph Grant, her partner DCI Hale and Derek the dog again.  These fabulous main characters are so strong that I could enjoy reading a book about them simply going about their daily lives but there is of course a murder to solve for Steph and Hale.

The amateur theatre setting is wonderful and it adds extra drama to the plot, especially when emotions run high and tempers are frayed among the cast and crew.  Steph has been roped in to help with the production and it's well outside her comfort zone but it helps to keep her mind off the apparent cracks that are appearing in her relationship.  

Lin Le Versha creates larger than life characters that virtually pop out from the page and the past and present double mystery kept me turning the pages as fast as I possibly could.  I love having no idea whodunnit and Lin always keeps me guessing until the big reveal.

Filled with mystery, suspense and drama, Blood Spots is a superb crime thriller that is impossible to predict and difficult to put down.  This series is already brilliant but it just keeps on getting better and better.  Very highly recommended.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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Hobeck

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GIVEAWAY: Husbands - Mo Fanning

I recently had the pleasure of reading an early copy of Husbands by Mo Fanning and I absolutely loved it - you can read my review by clicking HERE.  

As part of the blog tour, Hannah Hargrave PR has offered me a paperback copy to giveaway to one one lucky reader based in the UK.  You can enter via my posts on Instagram and X (links below), but first find out a little bit more about the book:

In Hollywood, every pavement star tells a story. Not all of them shine.

Wannabe actor Kyle Macdonald is down on his luck. Working as a supply teacher in an inner-city Birmingham school, he's single again at 28, and sleeping in his childhood bedroom beneath a 'Hard Candy' Madonna poster.

He gets a call claiming he drunkenly married top Hollywood director Aaron Biedermeier in Vegas six years ago. Rather than panic, he sees a golden ticket to fame and the life he's always fantasised about.

But the glamorous veneer of Los Angeles - non-stop sunshine, celebrity actors and exclusive hotel suites - starts to crack, revealing a darker, corrupt underbelly to La-La Land. Kyle digs deeper into his so-called husband's past, unearthing disturbing allegations of abuse and underage sex parties.

With the help of Biedermeier's fiancé, actor Noah Winters, he embarks on a cross-country race to unravel the mystery and expose the truth - finding love along the way.

 

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

Now for the giveaway!

Instagram: @the_bookmagnet

X: @thebookmagnet

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Husbands: Love and Lies in La-La Land - Mo Fanning

In Hollywood, every pavement star tells a story. Not all of them shine.

Wannabe actor Kyle Macdonald is down on his luck. Working as a supply teacher in an inner-city Birmingham school, he's single again at 28, and sleeping in his childhood bedroom beneath a 'Hard Candy' Madonna poster.

He gets a call claiming he drunkenly married top Hollywood director Aaron Biedermeier in Vegas six years ago. Rather than panic, he sees a golden ticket to fame and the life he's always fantasised about.

But the glamorous veneer of Los Angeles - non-stop sunshine, celebrity actors and exclusive hotel suites - starts to crack, revealing a darker, corrupt underbelly to La-La Land. Kyle digs deeper into his so-called husband's past, unearthing disturbing allegations of abuse and underage sex parties.

With the help of Biedermeier's fiancé, actor Noah Winters, he embarks on a cross-country race to unravel the mystery and expose the truth - finding love along the way.

 

What did I think?

I am so pleased that I picked up Husbands by Mo Fanning as I absolutely loved it.  Once I picked it up I couldn't put it down and wished I'd started it earlier in the day as I was furious that I had to put it down to go to sleep.  

Husbands touches on some serious subjects that completely broke my heart as these things really happened to lots of young actors but Mo Fanning writes respectfully and sensitively whilst still highlighting these issues.  The story itself is very entertaining and it's filled with dark humour that made me laugh out loud.

Most of my laughs came from the main character Kyle, or 'Kyle, man!' as I referred to him in my head every time he did something stupid (so pretty much all the time).  Only Kyle could drunk marry a Hollywood director in Las Vegas, go home to Birmingham (England) and completely forget about it.  Kyle, man!  Your acting dreams could have come true!   

So telling his parents he's off to Manchester (Kyle, man!), Kyle jumps on a plane and dives into the shark infested waters of LA LA Land.  Thank goodness he told his friend Milly where he was going - she deserves a medal for trying to keep him out of trouble.  What follows is an adventure-filled road trip with Kyle's husband's new fiancé to discover the truth about what actually happened in Vegas.

Hugely entertaining, dark and addictive, Husbands is as bingeworthy as a Netflix series and is surely destined to make it on to our screens in the future.  I loved the beginning, the middle and the end - very highly recommended.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: The Empire - Michael Ball

Welcome to The Empire theatre

1922. When Jack Treadwell arrives at The Empire, in the middle of a rehearsal, he is instantly mesmerised. But amid the glitz and glamour, he soon learns that the true magic of the theatre lies in its cast of characters - both on stage and behind the scenes.

There's stunning starlet Stella Stanmore and Hollywood heartthrob Lancelot Drake; and Ruby Rowntree, who keeps the music playing, while Lady Lillian Lassiter, theatre owner and former showgirl, is determined to take on a bigger role. And then there's cool, competent Grace Hawkins, without whom the show would never go on . . . could she be the leading lady Jack is looking for?

When long-held rivalries threaten The Empire's future, tensions rise along with the curtain. There is treachery at the heart of the company and a shocking secret waiting in the wings. Can Jack discover the truth before it's too late, and the theatre he loves goes dark?

Musical theatre legend Michael Ball brings his trademark warmth, wit and glamour to this, his debut novel.

Enjoy the show!

 

What did I think?

I've admired Michael Ball for many years, and I've been lucky enough to see him sing live, so I was both excited and nervous when I discovered that he had written a novel.  Excited as it's THE Michael Ball and nervous as just because he's a successful singer and actor doesn't mean he'll be a good author. I needn't have been nervous at all though as there really is no end to Michael Ball's talent; we all know that he can sing but he sure can write too!

The Empire is set in 1922 when going to the theatre is perfect escapism following the horror of the Great War.  Jack Treadwell returns from the war to find that his parents have both passed away and he needs to find himself a job.  Jack turns up at The Empire theatre at just the right time as they have a vacancy for a stage doorman and he is given the job on the spot.  

Jack fits in so well and he quickly comes to love The Empire theatre as much as the other longstanding employees.  So, when rival theatre owner Joe Allerdyce makes it known that he wants to add The Empire to his collection (by fair means or foul), Jack and his colleagues set out to save the theatre.  They come up with the most brilliant and ingenious ideas that had me laughing out loud and giving virtual rounds of applause.

It's quite a busy plot with a large cast of colourful characters but it never gets confusing and there's a handy character list at the start of the book if you do need to refer back to it.  I am so impressed by the writing; every scene is so vividly portrayed that I felt as if I was there, front and centre watching the wonderful productions.  

Filled with skulduggery and glamour, The Empire is incredibly entertaining from start to finish and I absolutely LOVED it.  It’s so good that I almost forgot to drink my cup of tea, I was so engrossed in the story; that’s definitely the mark of a good book in my case as I love a cuppa!

It's a fantastic debut novel and I hope it's the first of many, if Michael Ball can find time in his busy schedule to write them.  I think the film rights will immediately get snapped up and if The Empire isn't made into a film, I really will eat my hat.  Bravo, Mr Ball.

I received a digital ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Puchase links:

Unbouncepages.com/Michael-ball/

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the author:

Michael Ball OBE is a singer, actor, presenter and now author. He's been a star of musical theatre for over three decades, winning the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical twice, he's also won two BRIT awards and been nominated for a Grammy. Michael regularly sells out both his solo tours and his Ball & Boe shows with Alfie Boe and has multiple platinum albums. The Empire is his first novel.

Social Media Links

Twitter: @mrmichaelball   //  @ZaffreBooks

Instagram: @mrmichaelball // @zaffrebooks 

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BLOG TOUR: Curtain Call at the Seaview Hotel (A Helen Dexter Cosy Crime Mystery book 2) - Glenda Young

In the charming Yorkshire seaside town of Scarborough, the stage is set for murder . . .

Helen Dexter has started a new chapter in her life as sole proprietor of the Seaview Hotel.

But things take a dramatic turn when an acting troupe book into the hotel to rehearse a play they hope will save a much-loved theatre from being closed down. Helen immediately picks up on tension between the actors, but there is worse to come when the charismatic leading lady is found dead.

With so much at stake, it's clear the show must go on. Helen is roped into helping the troupe with their performance, giving her ample opportunity to discover who wanted their diva dead.

However, the murder is not the only thing on Helen's mind. She's receiving threatening phone calls, her car is vandalised - and she's just learned of an impending visit from a hotel inspector which could change the fortunes of the Seaview Hotel.

With her trusty greyhound Suki by her side, Helen is determined to uncover the identity of the killer - even if it means she has to give the performance of her life.

 

What did I think?

Glenda Young is such an amazing storyteller that I always get excited when she has a new book coming out, whether it's her family sagas or cosy crime series.  Curtain Call at the Seaview Hotel is the second book in the Helen Dexter Cosy Crime Mystery series set in Scarborough but it can totally be read as a standalone.

Helen Dexter runs a guesthouse in the picturesque seaside town of Scarborough and her latest booking is a group of actors who are performing in the town's theatre, in an attempt to save it from closure.  As Helen observes the actors at close quarters, they aren't as friendly towards each other as they first appeared and one of them is about to be murdered.  They all appear to have motive but Helen and her faithful greyhound Suki are determined to sniff out the murderer.

Add in a hotel inspector, a snooty neighbour, and a secretive new boyfriend and you've got a hugely entertaining tale.  There's more drama and entertainment in this one book than in a week's worth of Coronation Street episodes.  The setting is beautiful and Glenda's love of Scarborough shines through in her stunning, evocative writing.

Curtain Call at the Seaview Hotel is absolutely brilliant from start to finish.  There is so much drama and entertainment crammed into this fantastic book that it's impossible to put down.  I loved it and most definitely recommend it.

I received a digital ARC via NetGalley and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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The First Assistant - Clare Naylor & Mimi Hare

Time for some chick-lit!  I didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did.

I hadn't read the first book in the series (The Second Assistant), in fact I wasn't even aware there was a first book until after I finished this.  As a stand alone story it kept me interested from beginning to end.

It tells the story of Lizzie who works in Hollywood and just happens to be dating an actor - pah! you say, not more drivel.  Not at all - Lizzie's life is far from perfect.  It reads like an episode of The Office with everything from backstabbing and covering for the boss, to break ups, the Oscars and the Russian mafia.  I liken it to The Devil Wears Prada for films rather than fashion.

I liked the insight into working on a film set with a teen diva and all the scrapes Lizzie gets into and out of.  Just when her life seems to be spiralling out of control, good wins over evil!

If I come across the first book, I'll give it a read.

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